One Direction fans have been quick to gather outside the hotel where Liam Payne died to pay their respects.
Yesterday (October 16), authorities were called to CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina to reports of a man falling from a balcony from a third floor room.
The man was confirmed to be 31-year-old Payne, who rose to fame as part of boyband One Direction from British singing contest The X Factor.
Payne is reported as having been staying at the hotel with his partner, sharing a video of them on his Snapchat earlier in the day.
Head of state emergency medical system Alberto Crescenti said to Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel authorities were alerted at 5:04pm to ‘a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel’.
“At 17.11 a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man and later we found out that he was a singer in a musical group,” he continued.
“Unfortunately, he had injuries that were incompatible with life, as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death, there was no possibility of resuscitation.”
And as soon as fans heard the news, they flocked to the hotel to pay their respects to the singer.
Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 (John Phillips/Getty Images)
Buenos Aires Herald reports Payne’s body was taken away from the hotel at around 8:38pm and by that point, ‘around 50 anxious fans stood vigil, some of them crying’.
“Some set up an impromptu shrine to Payne,” it added.
Footage shows fans lighting candles and comforting one another as they stand outside the hotel and others are flooding to social media to pay their respects to the star and his loved ones.
A Twitter user wrote: “It is devastating to hear of the passing of Liam Payne. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and the fans who remember him so fondly. May he rest in peace.”
“Rest in peace Liam Payne. You will be forever loved, always missed and never forgotten. Sending so much love to those who loved you, your family, your friends, your One Direction brothers and the Directioners, and so much love to your son Bear,” another added.
Fans gathered outside Liam Payne’s hotel following the tragedy (6abc Philadelphia)
A third commented: “Liam Payne’s death is sad very very sad. He played a roll in all our childhoods. Just doesn’t seem real… I’m speechless. Rest easy.”
And a fourth resolved: “He fulfilled the dream of many fans and they were blessed to hug him and show him how much they love him.
“You deserved the best in the world. RIP Liam Payne, you will always live in our hearts.”
UNILAD previously contacted representatives for Payne for comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
